On 22nd January the Chinese new year – or, rather, New Year 4721 – will officially kick off the year of water rabbit, and ending on 9th February, 2024 (Chinese New Year’s Eve). The Chinese Lunar New Year always begins on the day of the second New Moon after the December solstice. Further, the Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year holiday—also called Spring Festival—is based on a complicated calendar that uses both the lunar (cycles of the Moon) and solar (Earth’s annual orbit around the Sun) to calculate dates. It’s also connected to the orbit of Jupiter. In fact, the traditions of the Chinese Lunar New Year are rooted in the astronomical origins of the holiday.
Each year has an animal sign according to the 12-year-cycle Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig). Furthermore, the Chinese zodiac is divided into five key elements of nature, or Wu Xing: wood, water, metal, fire and earth. Each lunar year is governed by a different element. A year ending in 2 or 3 is ruled by the water element, such as 2023’s Year of the Rabbit. The sign of Rabbit is a symbol of longevity, peace, and prosperity in Chinese culture. 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
The Rabbit is ruled by spiritual Neptune and shares traits to the Western zodiac sign of Pisces, the sign that rules illusions, escape, boundlessness and profound visualisation. Reality may be a fluid concept in 2023, one we may wish to scurry away from as often as possible.
Spoken word
Michael Henry [PoC]: Soil
Music
Gorillaz: Dirty Harry (Schtung Chinese New Year Remix)
Antonio Carlos Jobim feat. Elis Regina: Aguas de Marco (Waters of March)
Quantic Soul Orchestra: Something That’s Real
Freak Power: New Direction
Zero 7: Salt Water Sound
Florence + the Machine: Rabbit Heart [Raise It Up]
Little Dragon: A New
Nostalgia 77: New Inner City Blues
Nina Simone: Take Me to the Water
Why Tony?: Plastic Rabbit Blood
The Cure: The Same Deep Water As You
Through the Bohemian Looking Glass 